Product details

Laika Explorer Board For Raspberry Pi

• Raspberry Pi USB connected accessory• Control hardware with your Raspberry Pi• Incorporate motors, LED lights and circuits to your Raspberry Pi• Learn how to build displays and robotics• Use Scratch, the easy way to code for beginners, to drag and drop your program• Use code examples for more experienced computer programmers• Does not require soldering, only a screwdriver• Compatible with all Raspberry Pi modelsHow does the Laika Explorer board enhance my Raspberry Pi experience?The Laika Explorer board is the ideal companion to your Raspberry Pi in order to control hardware. You can use it to make your Raspberry Pi compatible with projects involving electrical switches, LED lighting and motorised movement necessary robotics. The more advanced projects can be undertaken with experience and familiarity.

The Laika Explorer board has four buttons for physical control, an improvement from your Raspberry Pi, which can only be controlled through a keyboard and a graphical user interface. The buttons give you the option to send program resets and other pre-written commands to the Raspberry Pi.

Also normally unavailable to the Raspberry Pi, the Laika Explorer provides you with the new ability to accept analogue inputs. With these types of inputs, you can set up projects that gather data from the surrounding environment. Examples include temperature logging, voice activation or movement detection.

There is an in-built solid state dual motor driver, an addition that will prove to be essential should you wish to build a gadget with multiple moving parts.

This board gives you more control over power than a standalone Raspberry Pi does because it comes with a power switch, meaning you do not have to keep unplugging the cable to switch it off.

How can I create projects with the Laika Explorer board?No soldering is required to create projects with the Laika Explorer board. It comes with terminal blocks that only require a screwdriver to connect cables and also comes with terminals that connect and separate easily with jumper wires.

The Laika Explorer board is suitable for all types of users, beginners and experts. The board can be controlled using the languages Scratch, Python and C. With Scratch, the drag and drop functionality means if you have very little programming knowledge, you can still create a program that can control hardware in a few minutes.

Greater control and sophistication is available using Python and C if you are a more experienced user. Also supplied online is a Laika library which gives more advanced control for you to work quickly and efficiently. Tutorials for using the board can be found on the Laika website here.

With the Laika Explorer board, you can build many more complex, anything your imagination can come up with. This is largely down to the four digital inputs and seven digital outputs which give you the option to connect multiple peripherals.

Should you wish to have your project contained within a case or attached to a surface, the board has mounting holes built into it. These holes make it physically easy to attach your board securely without the fear of it being knocked around inside a project case.

What is compatible with the Laika Explorer board?The Laika Explorer board is compatible with all models of Raspberry Pi up to and including the model B version 2. It simply connects to your Raspberry Pi via USB but has the capacity to connect to more by the expansion slot.

The expansion slot makes the Laika Explorer expandable with modules like the Laika mesh module for wireless communication. There are more ideas provided by the Laika website that range from controlling a laser-cut buggy to higher power devices capable of powering both the Explorer board and the Raspberry Pi.

Specifications

Type of devices

Expansion Board

Compatible with which Pi's?

Raspberry pi model A, A+, B, B+ and B V2

Pin outs

Dependant on use

Sockets

USB

Voltage

4.6 - 10.8VDC

Current

22mA Typical

Switching current

N/A

Assembly required

No

Soldering required

No

Package Contents

1x Laika Explorer Control Board

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Does it have to have a Pi or can it work from a desktop computer via usb?

Asked by: Anonymous

Unfortunately we are unable to guarantee full compatibility for this item in your intended application, as this is not the manner for which it was designed to be used.

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